Monday, November 7, 2016

How to Safely Shop on Cyber Monday

Cyber
Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving (this year, that's November 28th).
Like Black Friday, it's a day for holiday shopping, and it is becoming bigger
and bigger with each passing year. In fact, some analysts predict that Cyber
Monday could
outstrip Black Friday this year in total dollars spent. And that isn't
surprising, if you consider how pervasive online shopping has become over the
last decade. After all, who hasn't bought something (or more likely, many
hundreds of things) off of Amazon?

But
Cyber Monday can pose risks if you aren't careful. Thankfully, there are a
number of simple preventive measures you can take to safeguard against theft.
To ensure your information is secure and safe, follow these tips on Cyber
Monday. Whether you're shopping from your phone or your computer, you can't be
too safe or too cautious.

Use Different Passwords

If
you maintain multiple accounts on e-commerce websites, it's best that you use
multiple passwords for each. Any website with stored credit card information
should be treated with the utmost respect and care; don't use simple passwords,
and don't use passwords that you've used elsewhere. If you are concerned that
you won't be able to remember multiple passwords for multiple sites, consider
using an online password manager. There are a
multitude of password managers to choose from, many of which are
completely free.

Keep Your Mobile and Desktop OS Up-to-Date

Your
operating system, whether on your smartphone or your computer, acts
as a front-line deterrent against malware, viruses, and other potentially harmful
online risks. To protect your private data and credit card information, it is
important that you regularly update your operating system. If you shop online
using your phone or tablet, you may also consider getting a phone with built-in
security features. Mobile processors such
as Snapdragon by Qualcomm offer a number of built-in security features
that can help with malware detection, theft deterrence, content protection, and
user authentication on your phone. Buy a phone that helps protect your data for
you.

Don't Use Public Wi-Fi to Shop

No
matter what, don't shop on a public, unprotected Wi-Fi network. The dangers of
open Wi-Fi networks are well documented, but if you are unfamiliar with the
dangers, the basic risk is this: open Wi-Fi networks leave you vulnerable to
identity theft, including theft of private financial information, such as bank
account and credit card numbers. If you choose to shop from your smartphone or
tablet, do so over a secure cellular network or protected Wi-Fi network, or install
a virtual private network (VPN) on your mobile device. These applications encrypt private
data, offering a helpful barrier against would-be hackers.

Shop from Trusted Retailers

Sometimes
the simplest solution is the most effective one. If you shop only from trusted
retailers, you can minimize your risk of identity theft and fraud. Most major
retailers maintain SSL
certification on their websites. Sites with an SSL certificate are more
secure than those without, and are easily identified by two distinct features:
an HTTPS web address, and a padlock icon in the domain field, which is placed
in front of the web address. Retailers like J. Crew and Walmart have SSL
certificates on their websites, while others, like Target, surprisingly do not
(as of this writing).

Disable Cookies

Cookies are small pieces of digital information or data
that are stored by your web browser. Typically, cookies are intended to help
improve the user experience by storing information that may be used later. For
example, your web browser may remember your shipping address or contact
information; when you activate an input field, your browser may automatically
input this data or suggest it for quicker data entry. It certainly is
convenient, there is no doubt about that. But this information is often of a
sensitive and private nature, and should your device become lost or stolen,
this data could end up in the wrong hands. For peace of mind and added
security, disable
cookies on your device.

Shop Smart. Shop Safe.

There's no reason to be afraid of shopping on Cyber Monday.
But that isn't an excuse to become complacent either. Taking simple
precautionary measures can help ensure your personal and private data isn't
stolen or leaked, and this in turn can guarantee a safe, pleasant, and
trouble-free shopping experience this holiday season. Happy shopping and happy
holidays!

Samantha Rivers is a freelance writer who lives in Chicago (Go Cubs!) and loves writing anything in the lifestyle, parenting and career realm both online and print. When she's not running the Upward Onward blog, she enjoys curling up with a good book, finding new restaurants, being active outside, and indulging in a glass of wine or two.